Part 1 - The Shifting Nature of Teachers’ Work
Susan Robertson begins this presentation by explaining the origins of her book A Class Act: Changing Teachers’ Work, Globalisation and the State. Through four years of extensive research, she investigated teachers’ changing work and work conditions. She concludes in her book that “there is a simple lesson to be learned about teachers…the conditions associated with fast capitalism, the rise of the competitive contractual state and the tendency toward individualism and ‘doing well’ have created new fissures and progressively fragmented teachers as a unified category of workers.” She also argues that “at the end of the 1990s we see teachers as a collective being divided.” Finally, she further describes both the historical context and five unique teacher identities that have emerged.
Think about:
- Susan Robertson believes that “Ontario has grasped some of what it needs to think about…different kinds of policy making…to actually reframe or underwrite the kinds of working conditions that teachers actually deserve and do need in order to be able to do the work that they are actually contracted to do.” What is your reaction to Robertson’s view of Ontario’s progress?
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June 8th, 2010 at 5:12 pm
Susan
I thoroughly enjoyed this because it is a part of my PHD. Can you send me more information .I will appreciate it.
THanks
Nadira Maharaj
17 Seaview Road
Craigieburn
Umkomaas
4170 Kwazulu Natal
South Africa